Method and apparatus for automatically initiating the winding operation of winding machines



Oct 19, 195.4 w. SIEGENTHALER 2 692,089

9 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INITIATING THE WINDING OPERATION OF WINDING MACHINES Filed July 51, 1953 IN V EN TOR. im; TsR. Slew/Wm Patented Oct. 19, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATI- CALLY INITIATIN G THE WINDING OPERA- TIION 0F WINDING MACHINES Walter Siegenthaler, Erlenbach, Switzerland, as-

signor to Maschinenfabrik Scharer, Erlenbach,

Switzerland Application July 31, 1953, Serial No. 371,514

Claims priority, application Switzerland i December 29, 1952 4 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to winding machines and more particularly to a method and means for automatically initiating the winding operation on Winding machines.

For the purpose of automatically initiating the winding operation on cop winding machines, it is known to insert the beginning of the winding thread into a revolving thread clamp wherefrom the thread passes to the thread carrier (bobbin body or bobbin tube). The beginning of the thread then forms a length of thread projecting out of the finished package. After termination of the winding operation this length of thread has to be severed from the bobbin still remaining in the machine by means of a cutting device and, after having been disengaged from the thread clamp, this length must be drawn off by means of a suction system provided on the machine. Alternatively, after its withdrawal from the thread clamp and after the removal of the bobbin from the machine, the said length of thread projecting out of the bobbin is torn off by hand, in order to bring the weft bobbin into a condition suitable for weaving purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to l,"

eliminate the disadvantages connected with the described subsequent removal of the length of thread projecting out of the bobbin. According to the invention, a length of thread from the beginning of the thread to be wound is placed into a revolving thread clamp which turns about the axis of the thread carrier at a reduced speed relatively to the speed of the thread carrier, whereby a traction is exerted on said length of thread by the thread windings forming on the leading thread carrier, said traction causing the length of thread to be pulled out of the thread clamp and wound into the package to be formed on the thread carrier. Said length of thread accordingly is invisibly xed in the interior of the finished package.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating, by way of example, an embodiment of a winding spindle and driving means therefore, suitable for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an axial section through the drive for the winding spindle and the thread clamp, and

Figs. 2 to 6 are perspective views illustrating the initial stages of the winding operation.

According to Fig. 1 the Winding spindle I of a weft winding machine is mounted in a bearing sleeve 2, carrying at its rear end a cone disc 3, which serves for coupling the spindle with a drive shaft (not shown) connected to the driving gear of the machine in any conventional manner. The bearing sleeve 2 extends through a bushing 4, which is mounted in a wall 5 of the machine frame. The rear end of the bushing l contains a needle bearing 6 supporting the bearing sleeve 2, while a ball bearing "l serving for the same purpose is disposed in the front end of the bushing It. The cage 8 of the ball bearing I is flanged at 2a to form an outer, enlarged cylindrical extension 8b, completely surrounding a ball bearing 9. Airing le] is engaged over the winding spindle I and secured to 'it by means of a cross pin Il. The ring lil forms a front abutment for the ball bearing S, the inner race 9a of which abuts with its opposite end against one end of the inner race la of the ball bearing l; the other end of this inner race 'la bears against a shoulder 2a formed on the bearing sleeve 2. At the front side of the ring I0, the winding spindle I carries a driving disc I2 having a friction coating I3 for engaging the correspondingly enlarged end of a weft bobbin A, which according to Figs. 2-6 is slipped on the spindle I for windingpurposes. An outer sleeve Iil is secured to the cylindrical extension 8b of the ball bearing 9 and provided with a iiange Illa at its outer end remote from the ball bearing 8; the flange lila carries a small plate I5 fastened thereto at its center by a rivet IE. The small plate I5 is bent upwards at both ends, so as to form two thread clamping positions at the flange Ida of the sleeve I4.

During operation the cone disc 3 transmits its rotary movement unchanged to the winding spindle I, and the inner race la of the ball bearing 1, rigidly secured to the bearing sleeve 2, likewise turns at the full speed of the winding spindle I. The balls of the ball bearing I operate as planetary friction members, turning in the same direction as the spindle I and transmit their movement of rotation with considerable reduction, for example, at the rate of 1 :2.5 with respect to the speed of the associated inner race la, by the intermediary of the ball cage 8 and the cylindrical extension 8b thereof, to the outer sleeve I4, Which consequently has a speed correspondingly reduced with respect to the winding spindle I. Accordingly, the winding spindle I rotates faster than the double thread clamp, formed by means of the small plate I5 at the outer sleeve I.

Depending on the direction of rotation of the outer sleeve Ill the winding thread B (Figs. 2 6) is inserted with its free end (beginning of thread) into one or the other of the two thread clamps .3 formed by the plate l5 on the outer sleeve I4 (threading sleeve). In the course of the operation the vthread B is automatically wound on the thread fcarrier `A Irigidly held on the winding spindle l (Fig. 3). As soon as the thread B firmly adheres to the thread carrier A, because the rst thread windings Bl cross each other more or less frequently and also -due to fits adhesion force, the length of thread retained underneath the clamping plate I5, which length according to Fig. 4 falls behind in speed as the result of the faster rotating thread carrier A, is automatically pulled out of the clamp by the traction eX- erted on the thread, so vthat the condition shown in Fig. 5 is brought about. This length of thread,

i. e. the beginning of the thread, yaccording `to Fig. 6, is then wound around the thread carrier A and enveloped within the produced winding or package B2. Any discard or waste of 'thread is avoided in the described, completely automatic winding operation.

rllhe drive vfor vthe revolving thread clamp l5, llullen-of Ecourse, may also `be `effected in any other manner than by a ball-orfother planetary drive, as for instance lover va gear wheel-or .belt drive, in order to obtain the desired difference in speed -between'the .bobbin spindle :and Ithe thread .clamp vor the advancing of the thread carrier relatively `to the thread Clamp, without departing from the spirit -vof the -invention or the `scope of the appended claims.

Accordingly, there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a winding machine lhaving a winding spindle, a revolving Athread clamp arranged to turn about the axis-of .said winding spindle .and adapted to engage a length of )thread from vthe beginning of the thread to be wound on .said thread carrier, a common .driving member for ,said spindle and thread clamp, and movement transmission means operating to turn said thread clamp with ,a smaller speed than said winding spindle, whereby the length of thread engaged in said thread clamp is automatically pulled out o'f the Aclamp 'by the thread carrier and wound into the package to be formed on vthe thread carrier.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of automatically initiating the winding operation on winding machines having rotating thread carriers, which consists in placing a length of thread from the beginning of the 'thread to be wound into a revolving thread clamp, :and 'turning -the thread clamp about the axis of the. revolving thread carrier at a reduced speed 'with respect to the speed of the thread carrier, whereby ,a traction is exerted on said length of thread "by 'the v.thread windings forming on the thread carrier, said traction causing the length of thread to be pulled out of the thread clamp and1wound'intcthe package to be formed on the thread carrier.

`2. In a winding machine, a winding'spindle, a package receiving thread carrier engaged on the vwinding spindle, a revolving thread clamp arranged to turn about the axis of said winding spindle' and :adaptedto engagea length of thread .trom the beginning of the thread to be `wound on said thread carrier, ,a .common driving member for said spindle .andthreadclamp and movement transmission :means operating to turn -said thread clamp with a smaller speed than said winding spindle, whereby the `length of thread Vengaged 4in said thread clamp is automatically pulled' out of the clamp by the thread .carrier :and wound into the Apackage to be formed yon Ythe threadcarrien :3. .A winding machine as claimed in claim .2,

'wherein said ymovement transmission means includes a planetary .motion train imparting `a reduced speed to l:said revolving vthread clamp.

4. .A lwinding machine .as claimed in .claim 2, wherein :said movement transmission means .includes planetary friction ball gearing .for driving said 'revolving'threadclamp at reduced speed with respect to .the speed of said thread carrier.

References Cited :in the le Aof fthis patent FOREIGN PATENTS Number J Country Date 504,947 {reat Britain May ,19, `1193.9 `907mg?? Switzerland June l1, 19.45 

